Shoe-treating apparatus



I. B. HADAWAY. SHOE TREATING APPARATUS. -APPLlcATloN man APR. 12. 1919.

Patented Maf-21,1922.

treo stares (Tali. wir

TOI-KN' 3?.A HADWAY, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSAGHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNLT'El) SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, or rA'rEn-soiu, NEW JERSEY,

NEVI JERSEY.

A CORPORATION OF SHOE-TREATING APPARATUS.

Specification of `Letters Patent. Patmltd pian 21, i922.

Application filed April 12, 1919. Serial No. 289,570.

To all iti/10m in may (2o-acera.'

Be it known that I, Jenn B. HADAWAY, a'citizcn of the United States, residing at Swanipscott, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Shoe-Treating epparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like 'parts in the several i'igures.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating shoes and more especially tothe treatment by which portions of shoes are softened preparatory to lasting. It has become very common, 1f not universal, praeticeto soften the toe-end of a shoe preparatory to lasting the shoe around the toe, in orderv to render the marginal portions of the shoe-upper and the toe-box suiiiciently limpv and pliable to enable these elements to be pulled over, crimped, lasted, and compacted readily upon the bottom of the insole Without injuring the parts so Worked. Yln accordance With this practice various forms of shoe-treating apparatus have been provided, and althougl'i some of them give satisfactory results Within certain limits they are not entirely satisfactory vfor all kinds of Work. For example, some kinds of upper-leather require a considerablel quantity of moisture to render them soft and pliable, others respond to heat with a relative-lv sniall quantity of moisture, While materials such as those of which the sosealled lilcekivith box-toes are made become limp and pliable when heated Withoutth'e addition of any moisture whatever. It is not, in any rase, desirable to subject thev Work to anii greater degree of moisture than that requiredfto soften the parts that. are tobe pulled over and lasted, and consequently au apparatus thatsubjects the Work to excessive moisture is open to the objection that some kinds of leather shoiv stains and dry very slowly after being treated.

Considerable effort has been made to provide a shoe-treating apparatus capable of being` regulated as to heat and moisture so that 'these factors can be altered instantly if necessary between the treatment of one shoe and the next, at the same time affording machinery therein.

a i'vide range of variation in the `quantity of `moisture and in the degree of heat administered to the Work. This general object has not heretofore been obtained with a Wholly satisfactory degree of success, one of the prominent dii'liculties being that the degree of temperature could not be maintained Within bounds that safeguard the Work from being burned. A serious disadvantage has been that an excessive quantity of steam or vapor has been discharged into the ivorkroom, which is objectionable both for the reason that it renders the atmosphere of the Work-room unhealthful and uncomfortable, and causes excessive rusting of the Moreover, a treating apparatus that depends for its supply of vapor or steam upon a remote source of supply lnecessitates piping that is objectionable in Warin liveather, that is wasteful, and that increases' the cost of installing a treating apparatus. i

One object of the present invention .is to overcome formed ditliculties and disadvantages,` and to provide an apparatus adapted to treat various shoes by heat alone, by vapor, or by Avapor and dry heat conjointly, at the same 'time affording all the degrees of regulation necessary to treat each shoe according tothe inode of treatment best suited to the shoe.

An imptn'tant feature of the, invention consists in supplying vapor at atmospheric pressure to one part of the work, for example, the underside, andyat the saine time supplying dry heated air to that part of the ivork that does not require moisture, for example, that part of the toe portion that is visible when the shoe is finished.

AnotllQ- I important feature of the invention consists in utilizing one heating elenient to generato vapor for treating one part of the shoe and also `for generating and heatof the invention the liquid to be vaporized is conducted from a baro'inetric feeder to a heating element upon which the liquid is discharged at a rate within the capacity-of the heating clement to convert it into vapor, so that a uniform head of liquid, and consequently a uniform rate of flow from the harometrie feeder to the heating clement, will be maintained notwithstanding descent of the level of liquid in the container of the barometric feeder. p

Other objects and features of the invention are disclosed by the following detailed description and claims in conjunction with y the accompanying drawings.

treating device embodying the present invention in a forni designed to treat one shoe at a time, and Y Fig. 2 representsja sectional view on a larger scale and in a vertical plane showing such apparatus equipped with a barometric feeder, a shoe being arranged Vin position for treatment.

lThe. treating device comprises a cast-iron casing 16 having a chamber 12 and a mouth let to receive a portion of a shoe for treatment. A structure 16 composed preferably of heat-'insulating material such as wood is attached by any suitable means tothe front wallof the casing to determine the position of the shoeand tosupport the latter out of contact with the metal of which the casing vis made. This guard 16 is provided with a mouth 18 through which the toe end of a shoe may be inserted as shown by Fig. l, the surface 2O of said guard serving as a support for the forepart of the shoe. The heel-part ofthe shoeinaybe supported by any suitable means, such means,` in the present instance including a bracket 22, a clamping bol-t 24., and a washer 26. Portions of the bracket A22 are interposed between the guard 16and Vthe washer 26 1n such relationv as to be clamped against the guard by the saine pressure that clamps the guard against the casing. The guard is provided with a slot 28 that affords a range of vertical adjustment Vrelatively to the casing, and the bracket is likewise adjustable relatively to the casing and relatively to the guard. A holder 30 adjustably fitted to the bracket is formed and arranged to straddle the shoe so as to keep the latter from being displaced laterally-frein the bracket.

An electric heating unit is indicated conventionally at 32. ljtis enclosed in a .inetallic shell Se. one end 36 of which extends through a hole in a wall of the casing and fits closely in said hole. This end of the shell is open to permit the insertion and removal of the heatingv unit 34 while theshell and the casing remain in connected relation7 ranged so that the inserted portion of the vork will overhang it in order to utilize heat and vapor most economically. The upper part of the shell Sais provided with a trough eli into which Water may be fed drop by drop to be vaporizedby the heating unit.

lllhen the shell isheated without having a liquid fed" to it, it heats the work by direct radiation without subjecting the work to Vany moisture, but when liquid is fed into thetrough it is imn'iediately vaporized and the vapor rises without pressure but ineroly by levitatien into direct contact with the work and without being deflected or other- `wise guided; When this device is generating vapor it radiates dry heat at the same time, the dry heat rising and mingling withthe vapor. A lscreen 46 of line mesh may be Vinterposed between the vaporizer and the This work but may befomitted if desiree.

screen, as shown, is carried by an open frame -i-o of sheet metal, the frame being detachable and of suchzp-roportions that it may be inserted through the mouth'lt.

` lfig. 2 includesmeans for feeding `liquid drop by drop to the trough t without subjecting Vthel shoe. to the risk of Vbeing moistened by the liquid;- The feeding means comprises a feed pipe 50 extending over and lengthwiseof the trough la andhaving one or more small perforations in its under sido to emit liquid drop by drop'so that the'drops will enter 'the trough 44. The receiving end of this pipe .is 'connected' toa cup '52 of a barometric feeder supported externally of the casing 10. -This cup, as shown, is fixed to theV upper end of a post 5a. The liquid container 56, which is closed excepting at the bottoni, is provided with a nozzle 58, and the latter is arranged in the cup 52 to be supported by ribs 60 formed in the cup. The 4nozzle contains a shut-off valve 62.

stein 70 at its lower end, and said stein is ar anged in telescopic relation to the hollow `standairl 68." Although the lower portion of the standard is notshowiuit will be open to theatmospherc so that current of air may tlow upwardly through .it and through the stem 70 so as to enter the casing 10. The casing is preferably provided with means forminga flue to guide the air separately from the vapor,

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention the flue-forming ineansconiprises a tubular section T2 and a sheetmetal section 'Tttorming a chamber '76. A portion ot the section Til is shaped to contorni to the heating` shell 3st and is arranged in Contact with the shell so as to absorb sutilcient heat trom the latter to inducel an inflow et air through the stein 70. The air thus drawn in is heated by contact with the sheet metal section 'Ta and rises by levitation to the upper part ofthe chamber T6 Ytrom which it is emitted throughperfor-ations T8. The upper part et section Til is preferably arrano'ed te extend above and to overhang that portion of the shoe that is inserted through mouth ll. The peritorations 7S may be located accordingte any preferred arrangement but in the 'torni oft apparatus shoivn the greater number ot pertorations are above the portion el the Work that is to be treated While a relatively small number oi pertorations are beloiv the lcvelot the ivorlrto emit heated air where it may mingle with the vapor that is about to encounter the ivorli. Those pertorations that are above the Werl; are so disposed as to emitl the heated air downwardly at various angles of inclination so that a larne number' et small jets et heated air will play upon the upper part et the ivork to prevent the upper partv troni being inoistened appreciably by the vapor. in the vent that the inserted toe portion of the shoe is provided with a toebox that is rendered sott and pliable by heat, 'tor example the so-called Beckwith toe-box, such toe-box ivill be softened throughout its entire area ivhi'lc only the depending inargginal portion ot' the upper will be appreciably nioistened by any vapor that may rise from the trough Llet.

The volume and tem'peratln'c ot air pass ing through the chamber 'T6 ivill depend to seine extend upon Whether the heating unit is used at the saine time tor converting' liquid inte vapor` and to seine extent upon the control afforded by the rheostat lt is obvin ons thajtvhen the heating` unit is subjected te the cool` ig effect of cold Water or other cold liquid dropped upon it the proportion ot heat absorbed by the air in chamber 76 will be less than when the air alone is absorbiiu;r the heat. This is as it should be because, When treating' Werk that requires vapor. there should not be too L ,freat a quantity ot' heated air nortoo high temperature, since an excess et dry heat would neutralize the softening effect of the vapor. On the other hand, when the device is used to supply dry heatv Without vapor the volume and temperature ot the heated air are both greater. ln every case, however, arelatively small quantity of liquid may be t'ed through pipe 50 to insure enough vapor to safeguard the werk against being` burned by excessively hot air. The supply pipe 50 is provided with a regulating' valve 8() for controllingT the quantity et liquid supplied ior vaporization.

The upper part ot' casing 10 is tapered toward the center and terminates in a cylindric flue S2. |This flue provides a convenient coupling Ater a pipe such that indicated at Set to conduct the Waste vapor away from the device otherwise than by permitting it to escape into the vvorkroom. The coupling` portion S2 is provided with an oscillatery valve S6 the stem et which has a head or knob 88 by which it may be turned to open and close the passageway.

Having' thus described my invention, ivhat- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent et the United States is:

l. il shoe-treating apparatus comprising `means tor supporting a shoe in position `tor treatment, a metallic element adjacent to the treating locality, a conduit arranged to drip liquid upon thevupper -surlace oit said element, means Yfor heating said element to vaporize the liquid so dripped upon it, and means for n'iaintaining liquid at a constant level in said conduit te maintain a constant rate of discharge ot the liquid.

2. A shoe-treatingl apparatus comprising a treating` device having a chamber, a metallic element arranged in Vsaid chamber, means including' a baroinet-ric feeder arranged outside said chamber tor feeding liquid to a point troni which it may gravitate to the upper surfacev et said element, and means tor heating said element to vaporize the liquid ted to the latter.

3. fr shoe-treating apparatus comprising,r a treating' device havinga chamber and al mouth to receive an end et a shoe, a metallic element arranged-in said chamber under the position to be occupied by the ivork inserted into said mouth. liquid-feedingr means including' a conduit having an outlet arranged between said clement and the level te be occupied by the werk so that the ilischarged liquid u'ill drop upon said element, and means tor heating said element to vaporize the liquid ted te the latter.

Ll. Av shoe-treating apparatus comprising a treating device havingY a chamber. a metallic shell having an external lifpiid-holding cavity in its upper side, said shell being arranged in said chamber. and 'an electric heatin;y unit arranged in said shell.

A shoe-treating` apparatus comprisingf a treating` device having` a chamber, a metallic shell open at one end and arranged in said chamber`l a Wall et said chamber having a hole and said open end oit the shell being joined to said wall in registration with said hole. means for feeding liquid by gravity to the exterior surface of said shell, and an electric heating unit arranged in Asaid shellf to vaporizc the Water fed to the latter, said unit being removable through said open end of the shell and through said hole While the shell and said Wall are joined as aforesaid. y

6. A' shoe-treating apparatus comilirising treating device having a chamber and a mouth to receive a portion of a shoe, means arranged to meisten a portion oi the Work inserted in said mouth, and means arranged to discharge a current of air upon another portion of said work.

7. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a treatingdevice having a chamber and a mouth to receive a portion ot a shoe, means arranged to moisten a portion oi' the Work inserted in said mouth, and means arranged to heat air and to discharge a. current thereof upon another portionof the Work.

8. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a treating device having a chamber and a mouth to receive a portion oi' a shoe, vaporgenerating means including a heating element arranged in said chamber, and means including said heating element for supplying heated air .separately from the vapor, the latter said means being arranged to discharge the heated air against the Work inserted' in said mouth.

9. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a treating device E having a chamber and a month to receive a portion of a shoe,`means forming an air Hue in said device, a heating element arranged in said chamber to heata portion ot said flue-forming means, the flue being arranged to discharge the heated air against the Work inserted in said mouth, and liquid-'feeding meansarranged to discharge liquid upon said heated element to supply vapor to the Work.

l0. A shoe-treating'apparatus comprising a treatingdevice having a chamber and a mouth for the reception a portion of a shoe, means in said chamber for generating vapor and a current of hot air separately, and means for supplying a liquid tothe iirst said means to be vaporized thereby.

l1.. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a treating device having a chamber and a mouth to receive a portion of a shoe, means arranged to supply vapor to the under sidel of the Work inserted in said mouth, and

means arranged to emit air doivnivardl aga-inst the upper side of the Work.

1Q. A shoeftreating apparatus comprising a treating device having a chamber and a mouth to receive a portion of a shoe, means arranged to supply vapor to the under side of the Work inserted in said mouth, said means including a heatingelement located in said chamber, and means for supplying a current of air'to the Work, said air-supplying means being arranged to be heated' by said heating element to heat the air supplied to the Work.

lSQ rr shoetreating apparatus comprising a treating device having a chamber and a mouth to receive a portion or' a shoe, means in said chamber 'for generating vapor Vand current of hot air` separately, and mea-ns -for keeping the vapor and the hot air separate as they flow from the generatingmeans to the Work inserted in said mouth.

la. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a treating device having a chamber and a mouth to receive a portion oi a shoe, said device having a hole toY admit air below the level of the Worka n'ieans in said chamber forming a lue to conduct air 'from said hole to the work,vapor-generating means inclu ding a heating element in said chambeig'said clement being arranged to heata portion of said flue-forming means so as to induce a current oi' air therein by levitation.

l5. A shoetreating apparatus comprising a casing orminga treating chamber and having an inlet opening to receive air, means in said chamber for supplying hot vapor to treat one portion of the Work, means feria ing a flue to conduct the air from said inlet opening to another part of the Work constructed and arranged to prevent the vapor from moisteningsaid other part, and means it'or causing air to flow through said flue toward the Work. Y

16. A shoe-treating apparatus comprising a treating device having a chamber, a base for supporting said device, said base andsaid device having co'operative telescopic portions 'tor coupling them and for forming a ronduit to conduct air from the atmosphere into said chamber, and heating means in said rhamber to generate an inflow of air through said telescopic portions and to heat the air for treating the Work. Y,

17. A vapor-treating apparatus comprising a metallic heating element, means arranged to drop liquid upon said heating ele- Y ment, said means including a barometric feeder arranged to control the supply of liquid, and means arranged to support an article of Work Where it Will undergo treatment by the vapor generated by said heating element.. y

18. A vaporizing apparatus comprising a hollow metallic element having an external trough for liquid to be vaporized, an electrical heating unit arranged in said metallic element to vaporize the liquid in saidtrough, and means, including a barometric feeder, arranged to supply liquid by the force ol gravity and to discharge the liquid above the level oi' said trough so as to drop the discharged liquid into said trough. Y

i9. A. vaporizing apparatus comprising a heat-radiating element having an external trough arranged to hold liquid to be vaporized, heating means embedded in said element under said trough, and .means arranged to supply liquid to said trough at a constant rate.

20. A treating apparatus comprising a casing having a treating chamber, a metallic heat-radiating element in said chamber, and means including a barometrie feeder arranged to drop liquid on the exterior of said element at a Constant rate to be Vaporized.

21. A vaporizing apparatus comprising an internally heated element, and liquid Jeednyb)I means arranged to supply liquid to the eX- terior of said element at a constant rate to be Vaporized.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN B. HADAWAY. 

